Haslam would sign supermarket wine bill if passed

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Gov. Bill Haslam says he will sign a proposal to allow wine to be sold in supermarkets into law if it is passed by lawmakers this year.

The Republican governor told reporters Thursday that he's neutral on the measure, but that he won't stand in the way of it becoming law.

State Sen. Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro and fellow Republican Rep. Jon Lundberg of Bristol announced earlier in the day that their bill would put the decision before the voters in cities and counties that currently allow liquor sales.

But the bill is meeting stiff resistance from liquor store owners and wholesalers who want to keep the current system that restricts sales of any alcohol stronger than 5 percent to liquor stores.